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Welcome to 1100 Pennsylvania, a newsletter devoted to President Donald Trump’s Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C. (and his other companies). President Trump, of course, still owns his businesses and can profit from them.

If you like what you see, tell someone—and support this work by becoming a paying member ($5/month or $50/year). If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe for yourself at zacheverson.substack.com.Questions? Read our FAQ/manifesto.Tips or feedback? Contact me, Zach Everson, securely via email at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com or on Signal at 202.804.2744.

In Uruguay for a site visit, Eric Trump reportedly says he discusses the country with his father

While in the country, Eric granted an interview to Joaquín Silva of El Observador (which 1100 Pennsylvania would not have thought to look for if it weren’t for Eric’s tweet). In the conversation, Eric said that he doesn’t talk about the commercial property with his father, but they do discuss Uruguay (via Google Translate):

Uruguay is a topic of conversation between you and your father?

Certainly, the issue of the construction of the tower was prior to the period of the policy. I do a good job keeping the commercial policy area separate. That separation is very important for me: but my father knows Uruguay, he talks about Uruguay, and one of his best friends is from Uruguay.

To make clear: That quote is via a translation from Spanish of Eric’s answer, which he mostly likely gave in English. Meaning it’s a translation of a translation. And also to make clear: according to that translation, Eric’s saying that while he doesn’t talk about about Trump Tower Punta del Este with his father, they do discuss the country where the Trump Organization is invested.

Despite the interview’s ground rules prohibiting questions about politics, Silva asked Eric for his thoughts on the need for a border wall. Eric provided a detailed answer on why he agrees with his father.

The approach that he is taking allows Don and Eric to preserve this great company and its iconic assets. And this approach is best from a conflicts and ethics perspective. It creates a complete separation from President-elect Trump it separates him and prevents him from participating in the business and poses strict limits on what the trustees can do and requires the assent of any ethics adviser to a new deal.

‘Build the wall’ chants likely tonight at hotel

Angel families (a term used to describe relatives of people killed by unauthorized immigrants) and “surprise VIPs” are joining Women for Trump, MAGA Meetups, and America First DC at the event.

Women for Trump’s executive director, Amy Kramer, is slated to attend as well. As of Dec. 10, 2018, one of Kremer’s other groups, Women Vote Smart, still owed the Trump Hotel D.C. $40,000 for a summit it held there in October.

Noteworthy sightings

Iranian dissident Amir Fakhravar shared his thoughts on the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution from a room at the U.S. president’s hotel (per Google Translate). Fakhravar is a proponent of regime change in Iran. His video has been viewed more than 36,500 views times in 17 hours. [Due to a formatting issue, select the link to watch the video (which is in Persian.)]

The president of lobbying firm the Da Vinci Group, Mark Smith, a Trump Hotel D.C. regular, showed the “next generation of leaders” how to take a selfie at the president’s D.C. hotel. Among those future leaders under his wing:

state tax and fiscal policy analyst at the Koch brothers-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, Skip Estes

coordinator for ALEC’s the free speech and membership development department, Giovanni Triana

Other Trump Organization news

“When news emerged that Qatar may have unwittingly helped bail out a New York skyscraper owned by the family of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, eyebrows were raised in Doha.” By Dmitry Zhdannikov, Herbert Lash, and Saeed Azhar for Reuters.

Intelligence—On Feb. 6, chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D–CA) issued a statement that said his committee would investigate links or coordination between the Russian government/related foreign actors and individuals associated with Trump’s businesses as well as if foreign actors sought to compromise or hold leverage over Trump’s businesses. During an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Feb. 10, Schiff said the committee will investigate Trump’s relationship with Deutsche Bank, a major lender for the Trump Organization. Earlier, on Jan. 24, the committee sent an inquiry to Deutsche Bank AG on its ties to Trump, according to the bank.

Oversight and Reform—Chair Rep. Elijah Cummings’s (D–MD) staff “has already sent out 51 letters to government officials, the White House, and the Trump Organization asking for documents related to investigations that the committee may launch,” according to CBS News on Jan. 13.

Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management—Transportation committee chair Rep. Peter DeFazio (D–OR) and subcommittee chair Dina Titus (D–NV) sent a letter to GSA administrator Emily Murphy on Jan. 22 asking for all communication between the GSA and the members of the Trump family dating back to 2015, an explanation of how the hotel calculates its profits, profit statements since the hotel opened in 2016, any guidance from the White House regarding the lease, and whether or not Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are recused from participating in decisions regarding the property. DeFazio and Titus requested a reply by Feb. 8. When hearings begin, it is likely that Murphy will be the first person called to testify, according to a person familiar with the subcommittee’s plans.

Ways and Means subcommittee on Oversight—The subcommittee held its first hearing on “legislative proposals and tax law related to presidential and vice-presidential tax returns” on Feb. 7. “We will ask the question: Does the public have a need to know that a person seeking the highest office in our country obeys tax law?” said chair Rep. John Lewis (D–GA). Experts in tax law testified.

Individual capacity—On Dec. 14, Trump’s personal attorneys appealed the denial of their motion to dismiss the case, also to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Dec. 19, the AGs replied to Trump’s motion for a stay pending that appeal by voluntarily dismissing the claims against Trump in his “individual capacity to allow the claims against President Trump in his official capacity to move forward expeditiously.” (The AGs only brought suit against Trump in his individual capacity after the judge suggested they do so.) Trump’s personal attorneys, on Dec. 21, opposed the motion to dismiss at the district level, saying the appeals court now has jurisdiction and accusing the AGs of “gamesmanship.”

Employees’ class-action suit alleging racial discrimination—Two of the three plaintiffs did not appear at a status hearing on Jan. 25; their cases were moved to arbitration. Via email, their attorney, A.J. Dhali, said his clients did not appear at the hearing because their case already had been moved to arbitration last year. The next status hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4.

Health inspections, current status (latest change, Aug. 10, 2018)

❌Hotel: five violations on May 7, 2018; two were corrected on site

❌BLT Prime and Benjamin Bar: nine violations on Aug. 10, 2018

❌Sushi Nakazawa: two violations on Aug. 10, 2018

✔️Banquet kitchen: no violations on Aug. 10, 2018

❌Pastry kitchen: two violations on Aug. 10, 2018

✔️Gift shop: no violations on May 7, 2018

❌Employee kitchen and in-room dining: five violations on Aug. 10, 2018; two were corrected on site

One thing that has nothing to do with Trump’s businesses (I think, tough to tell sometimes!)

Thanks for reading. If you like what you see, tell someone—and support this work by becoming a paying member ($5/month or $50/year). If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, subscribe for yourself at zacheverson.substack.com.Questions? Read our FAQ/manifesto.Tips or feedback? Contact me, Zach Everson, securely via email at 1100Pennsylvania@protonmail.com or on Signal at 202.804.2744.